Anatoly VYBORNY: “It is necessary to facilitate peaceful settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict using to the maximum extent possible the capabilities and mechanisms, including those offered by the CSTO peacekeeping activities”

Anatoly Vyborny, Chairman of the Standing Commission on Defence and Security of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organization and deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, called for maximum use of the peacekeeping potential of the Collective Security Treaty Organization in the peaceful resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.
“The armed conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh has already claimed dozens of lives of not only servicemen, but also civilians. I express my condolences to the families of the dead and wounded. Being a military man myself, I understand the danger of the conflict escalating further into a protracted confrontation with inevitable civilian casualties. This is unacceptable.
War brings tragedy to millions of people. It is doubly sad that its lessons are still not learnt. In the year of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the former Soviet republics and Europe from fascism, we see local conflicts flaring up along our borders. Moreover, the igniting spark is often thrown from outside. This dangerous trend poses a threat to the security of Russia and our neighbours.
This old conflict obviously cannot be allowed to move to an open military phase,” said the Chairman of the CSTO PA Standing Commission. “It is necessary to facilitate conflict resolution using to the maximum extent possible the capabilities and mechanisms, including those offered by the CSTO’s peacekeeping activities. Moreover, according to the Organization’s charter, military aggression against one Member State of the military bloc is considered as such against the others.
Russia has extensive peacekeeping experience and capabilities. We are always ready to lend a helping hand and back other countries, to become a negotiator. I hope that we will manage to prevent a disaster peacefully,” Anatoly Vyborny said.
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